Improvement in seeding-machines



Patented Nov. 30, 1858 HUNT & KENNEDY.

AM. PHOTO-LITHO, C0. NX (DSBORNE'S PRDCESS) PATENT OFFICE.

R. W. HUNT AND M. KENNEDY, OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEEDlNG-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No'. 22,] 80, datedNovember 30, 1858.

tion, taken in the line w m, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is' a vertical section ofthe same, taken in the line 3 y, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detached horizontalsection of one of the seed-boxes of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct ourinvention, we

will proceed to describe it.

A represents a horizontal frame, which is mounted on two wheels, B B;and O is a draftpole attached thereto. On the back part of the frame adrivers seat, D, is placed, and to each side of the frame a bar, a, isattached by a joint, I), the front ends of the bars being attached tothe under side of the frame. The back end of each bar a is attached by apivot, c, to a bar, d, and the upper ends of the bars 03 are pivoted tobars 6 e, which are pivoted to the frame A. The upper ends of the bars(I are attached to a transverse bar, f.

To each bar a a seed-tube, g, is attached and braced by a rod, h, and tothe upper ends of the tubes g seed-boxes E E are attached, one to each.The seed-boxes and also the tubes may be of metal. In the upper part ofeach tube 9 a lever, 3, passes horizontally. These levers have each aplate, j, attached to them, said plates being in the lower parts of theseed-boxes and riveted to the levers i. The plates j have each a jog orrecess, L, formed in their ends, and the bottom of each seedboX has ahole, I, made through it, said holes, when the leversz' are not actedupon, being in line with the recesses or jogs 7a, which leaves saidholes exposed, the levers i covering the under sides of the holes.

WVithin each tube 9 two levers, m n, are placed, 0 0 being their fulcra.These levers are connected together, as shown at p, and a spring, q,bears against the upper lever, m, said spring having a tendency to keepthe lower end of lever 01 against the front side of the lower end oftube 9, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. The upper ends of the levers mareattached to the levers i.

To one of the wheels 13, on which the frame A is mounted, a toothedwheel, F, is attached concentrically. This wheel F gears into a pinion,0", which is attached to a shaft, G, the inner end of which has abevel-pinion, s, attached, the pinion s gearing into a bevel-wheel, If,on the upper end of a vertical shaft, H, said shaft passing through theaxle I of the wheels, and having two bars, a u, attached to it, the barsa crossing each other at right angles, and the shaft H attached to theircenter at the point of junction.

To the front parts of the lower ends of the tubes 9 g furrowshares v areattached, one to each, and a covering share, w, is also attached to theback part of each tube.

The operation is as follows: As the machine is drawn along, the bars a uare rotated through the medium of the gearing F 1' s t, and the ends ofsaidlbars strike the ends of the levers z i, which, in connection withthe plates j, form the seed-distributers, the holes Zin the bottoms ofthe seed-boxes, when exposed, filling with seed, which drops from theholes into the tubes 9 when the plates 7' pass over said holes and thelevers 6 pass from underneath the holes. The levers m n are operated, ofcourse, simultaneously with the seed-distributer as the upper lever, m,is connected with the lever j thereof. The lower lever, 11, closesagainst the lower ends of. the tubes 9 and retains the seed as it isdropped from the seed-boxes, and each time the levers i are moved toallow the seed in the tubes Z to pass out, the lower levers, a, in thetubes 9 open. quickly and permit the seed that was previously droppedinto them to be discharged into the furrows, the spring q causing thelevers to quickly return to their former position each time the levers tare relieved from the action of bars a. The shares 12 w perform theirusual functions of respectively forming and closing up the surrows intowhich the seed is dropped.

The operator may at any time raise the tubes gin order to clearobstructions which may lie in their path or to stop the seeddistribution by drawing up the bar f.

The seed-distributers may be actuated any proper number of times inpassing over a given surface of ground by increasing or diminishing thenumber of bars u. In fact, a wheel with radial arms attached to itsperiphery, and fitted in holes therein, may be used, so that a greateror less number of arms may be used, according to the amount of seed tobe planted in a given area. It will therefore be seen that the seed maybe planted in check-rows or drills, as may be desired.

We are aware that seed-dropping slides have been previously used, inwhich cut-off plates have been attached to cover the tops of seed-holeswhile the lower'ends are opened; and we therefore do not claim suchdevice. Neither do we claim, broadly, the levers m n for retaining theseed so that it may be we claim as new, and desire to secure by Let-'ters Patent, is-

Arranging the levers z and plates j, which form the dropping device,with the levers m n in the tubes 9, as described, whereby the above-named parts are rendered capable of being operated simultaneously bythe simple action of the bars a 0n the ends of the levers i.

R. WV. HUNT. M. KENNEDY.

Witnesses: y

W. A. OGDEN, I. G. EWING.

